BYU football: Cougars focused on eliminating turnovers against Utah State

KVN is a great player, but he is not the best player
to ever come out of Utah. Not even close.

WiscougarfanRiver Falls, WI

Sept. 30, 2013 8:27 p.m.

RE: AggiePride

"USU will be better at every position on Friday
night (including the best line backer on the field), and will come away with a
huge victory."

Sorry, but you obviously don't know who you
are playing. KVN is very possibly the best football player to ever play in the
state of Utah.

JohnInSLCCottonwood Heights, UT

Sept. 30, 2013 6:34 p.m.

"Since there are so many of you here on another BYU site (again), and
especially to Chris B"

Tators:

That's funny,
right there--coming from the y "fan" who posted 5 of the first 25
comments on the "Utah in the Pac-12" story. Hah!

AggiePrideLogan, UT

Sept. 30, 2013 4:59 p.m.

I am less stressed about this game than I have ever been. If BYU beats USU in
Logan, I will be shocked! BYU has seemed to crumble as a program, while USU is
getting stronger than ever. USU will be better at every position on Friday night
(including the best line backer on the field), and will come away with a huge
victory. Just hope we aren't looking past BYU towards Boise.

Samurai JakeSalt Lake City, UT

Sept. 30, 2013 4:04 p.m.

@Tators:

Wishful thinking and dreaming is all cewgs have at this
point, now that both the kittens and the golden domers have zero national
implications whatsoever. Independence: it's a lonely business!

Go Utes! Go Aggs!

P.S. - the only floating going on, are the pass
attempts that continue to fly over Hill's receivers' heads more than
10 yards from the line of scrimmage!

Seems like "eliminating turnovers" has been the
focus all season, not just against Utah State. It was sure talked about a lot
before the Utah game. Pretty embarrassing to have so many turnovers against
MTSU.

TrueBlueOrem, UT

Sept. 30, 2013 3:04 p.m.

Go Big Blue!!!

The last time BYU played in Romney Stadium, Jamie Hill
was BYU's DC and stopped calling defensive plays early in the first half;
he basically quit on his team and was fired the next morning.

Your cougs face a very tall order against an Aggs team with a rowdy home
crowd, all of whom will be looking to shut down the cougs.

Go Utes!
Go Aggs!

Steven S JarvisOrem, UT

Sept. 30, 2013 1:25 p.m.

USU is better than Texas, Virginia, MTSU or Utah. However, they always seem to
beat themselves on special teams issues which have cost them most of their
losses these last three years. BYU is an underdog for the first time I can
recall facing USU. That says a lot about how greatly improved USU is. BYU has
to hold onto the ball, make Keaton throw early and have stellar offensive line
play to be in this game.

Does Utah have a chance against UCLA? The
referees won't allow Utah to blanket wide receivers, pushing and tackling
them before the ball is in the air like they did playing BYU. They will call
those PI calls left and right. Utah already pulled off the upset of USU with a
trick play. UCLA knows that, so it will be harder to pull off a second time.
UCLA has an NFL calibre QB. Go and watch the Nebraska game. UCLA has a
balanced attack as well as a solid defense. Utah could win if the game is
played in poor or very cold conditions. The game starts late, so it is a
distinct possibility.

TatorsHyrum, UT

Sept. 30, 2013 1:01 p.m.

One more thing.

The boys actually in the know (Sagarin rankings) who
take all things into consideration (even wins by trick plays), still have the
Aggies ranked 6 spots better than the utes. And that actually makes some sense,
since Utah barely squeezed by in both of their games with USU and BYU by single
digits. Utah had less yardage and first downs in both games. Not all that
impressive in spite of chalking up wins.

Non-biased observers who
take all kinds of different factors into consideration still know that USU is
currently the best team in the state. Had that USU game been played in Logan,
the Aggies would've easily won by double digits... just as BYU
should've done in Provo, but nevertheless didn't.

The utes
might've been the best team in the state early season. But not anymore. The
next Sagarin rankings will bear record that the game Friday night will determine
who the current best team in the state is (in-spite of the Boot). BYU and USU
have continued to get better while the U has simply floated. The trolls try hard
to believe otherwise. Watch and learn.

TatorsHyrum, UT

Sept. 30, 2013 12:30 p.m.

@ Ute Trolls:

Since there are so many of you here on another BYU site
(again), and especially to Chris B... if Utah can't even beat a lower tier
PAC12 team at home, how in the world can you justify thinking they can beat the
number 11 team (UCLA) in the country?

Answer: You can't.
It's all wishful thinking... just like all of Chris's predictions,
which incidentally are wrong every bit as much as they are right.

It's possible that USU might (but no guarantee) beat BYU since the game
is in Logan. But there is simply no way the Utes can have any realistic hope of
beating UCLA. It simply will not happen. The Utes have never once beaten a
conference foe with a winning record in 3 years. They've given us no
special reason to believe that will change this week. But if it rocks your
boat, then dream on.

TatorsHyrum, UT

Sept. 30, 2013 12:16 p.m.

7 out of the first 8 comments to this article are again from Ute trolls. So the
question still remains...do they actually like the Utes anywhere near as much as
they hate and continue their obsession with all things BYU? Very difficult to
tell. But sitting around waiting to be the first ones to post on BYU articles
does say a lot about them... even they don't actually say a lot
themselves.

Oh yea... Chris B... mark it down!..

ClarkHippoTooele, UT

Sept. 30, 2013 12:09 p.m.

@Chris B

I've marked it down.

Whoa NellieAmerican Fork, UT

Sept. 30, 2013 12:04 p.m.

Still amusing that any article about BYU (and no, this article is not also about
USU) brings out so many of the non-entities who have nothing to add to society.
See first five comments above.

Go Big Blue!!!Bountiful, UT

Sept. 30, 2013 11:07 a.m.

Aggies are a 6.5 point favorite Friday night. I'll be disappointed if USU
doesn't win by much more than that. The last time the Cougars came to
Cache Valley their team was outplayed from start to finish. Expect more of the
same.

curlingsteelEagle Mountain, UT

Sept. 30, 2013 10:39 a.m.

I'm a huge BYU fan. That's why I go to the games and read all the
articles.I care about how well BYU does every year, and regardless,
I'll still cheer them on, because BYU is in awesome school that has a proud
tradition. My kids love BYU, and whenever someone sees them wearing the Y on
their shirts, there's an immediate connection, regardless of where we are
in this country.I care, therefore, I comment.It makes no sense why
anyone would comment that doesn't care.

CougFaninTXFrisco, TX

Sept. 30, 2013 10:26 a.m.

cb - just curious, why do you post your predictions about the Utes and the PAC
on a BYU vs USU article? Are you worried that nobody would read your
predictions if you posted them on a Utes article?

I agree that the
Aggies are the best team BYU has played this year. They outplayed the Utes,
even though they lost on the scoreboard. And they looked very impressive
against SJSU.

It will take BYU's best game to get past the
Aggies. 5 turnovers and it'll be a long, cold night. Sub 50% passing and
it will be lights out. I'm hoping Williams and Hine will be back. They
are both difference makers.

Fight On!St George, Utah

Sept. 30, 2013 10:24 a.m.

Chris B

You are right, the PAC-12 south could be decided this
weekend. If UCLA loses to the frUTES, they will most likely not be in
contention for the PAC-12 south. Especially with ASU dominating the Trojans
Saturday night. You are more delusional than I thought if you honestly
think Utah is a contender. U will be dominated by UCLA, ASU, USC, and likely
Arizona. Along with being completely destroyed by Stanford and Oregon. I do
think you will pull off a win in Pullman and vs Colorado this year.
Unfortunately it will not be enough to make it to a bowl game. It will be
interesting to see what happens over the next 2 years without a win over BYU for
the frUtes to hang their hat on. Looking forward to the epic melt-down.

WiscougarfanRiver Falls, WI

Sept. 30, 2013 10:22 a.m.

Let's be honest Chris B., you care much more about BYU losing than you do
about any other team winning. However, I do think you're about right on
the BYU/USU score... it should be a close game and a defensive battle. I think
you may be wearing crimson colored glasses regarding the other game, but I do
hope the Utes give them a run for their money.

I think this article
is spot on and the key to Friday's game will be turnovers. If BYU can
start causing turnovers and quit giving them away this is a winnable game. This
is one of the best defenses BYU will face this season and will be a great test
to see whether the offense can play with the big boys. Did I just call USU
"big boys"?... I guess they've earned it, at least for the time
being. Go Cougs!

SambonethegreatSalt Lake City, UT

Sept. 30, 2013 10:10 a.m.

@Chris B

I'm pretty sure you won't play in the Rose Bowl
this year, so it's probably not a good idea to rub in BCS implications.

Chris BSalt Lake City, UT

Sept. 30, 2013 8:54 a.m.

One game this week is to determine the second best team in Utah. There are no
BCS implications whatsoever and no one outside of Provo and Logan care.

One game this week determines the Pac 12 South, with a spot in the Pac
12 title game with the Rose Bowl on the line. And much of the nation will be
watching

Good luck to usu and Utah this week.

Chris BSalt Lake City, UT

Sept. 30, 2013 8:23 a.m.

I think I care almost as much about usu beating byu as I do Utah beating
UCLA.

And they're both going to happen.

usu 24byu 17

Utah 27ucla 24

Mark it Down

Steven S JarvisOrem, UT

Sept. 30, 2013 7:40 a.m.

USU is a legit team playing at home. While they aren't as good at forcing
turnovers as MTSU was, they are clearly the best team BYU has yet to face. BYU
has to have their best defensive effort leaving no wide receivers open. I still
feel BYU has enough in the tank to take the game, but do expect a low scoring
affair, something like 14-10 in the Y's favor. Hopefully everyone is
healthy and plays.

Scott FarcusBeaver, UT

Sept. 30, 2013 7:13 a.m.

Ernie and Milly,You'll have to admit that a team that runs a
"Nitro, Go Fast Go Furious, No Huddle, Wang Dang, Banana Rama Ding Dong"
offense is a threat to all schools.

The topper is that awesome three
point stance, down set hut run out on the field offense and defense, imagine
that coming at you in a game, scares me tot think about it.

Proud Ute,

Sept. 30, 2013 5:23 a.m.

Ernest and Mildred, You forgot the conspiracy against the coogs
perpetrated by all the officials whose ever worked a game.

Mildred in FillmoreSalt Lake City, UT

Sept. 29, 2013 10:10 p.m.

The only way Utah State beats us is if we beat ourselves. Oh wait a minute,
that's the only way ANYONE ever beats us.

Ernest T. BassBountiful, UT

Sept. 29, 2013 9:25 p.m.

We should beat this game easily. I'll bet we could get enough TDs to have
SI right another story about us.

JohnJacobJingleHeimerSchmidtBeverly Hills, CA

Sept. 29, 2013 9:21 p.m.

It will be fun watching USU beat down Uncle Rico's living in the past
Cougars fresh off false self confidence on beating some no name school they made
sound like an SEC power.